BJP wants Sonia to apologise for Shinde's comments

New Delhi: The BJP today attacked Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for accusing it and RSS of running terror training camps and demanded an apology from Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi for it.

"Their (Congress') destructive mindset is reflected in the statement of the Home Minister. The statement he has given at the Chintan Shivir is very objectionable. It's not only unacceptable but also dangerous," BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.

He said Shinde's statement was aimed at disrupting peace and harmony in the country. Terming RSS as a "nationalist organisation", the BJP leader said, "Sonia Gandhi should apologise. Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister should also apologise, otherwise there will be serious consequences. This is not accepted. Such baseless things when said by Home Minister amounts to giving clean chit to real terrorists."

Sonia Gandhi. AFP.

The BJP spokesperson also said that Shinde's statement has given "oxygen" to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. "You have also strengthened the anti-India terrorist groups," he added.

"Sometimes I feel that Congress has become a group of cowards (kayaron ki jamaat). I am saying because terror strikes are repeatedly happening in the country, terrorists are mushrooming here," he said.

"Pakistani Army troops are beheading our jawans and our Prime Minister takes too long to respond to that. Our government thinks repeatedly before giving any reaction to such incidents. It gives warning to Pakistan only when the nation is agitated, but that warning too is nothing but an empty warning, leading to a ridicule," Naqvi said.

"Reports have come during investigation that BJP and RSS conduct terror training camps to spread terrorism... Bombs were planted in Samjhauta express, Mecca Masjid and also a blast was carried out in Malegaon," Shinde had said.

Later Shinde also added, "This is saffron terrorism that I have talked about. It is the same thing and nothing new. It has come in the media several times."